Denver, Colorado

The Mile-High City was founded in 1858 as a mining town during a gold rush, and was incorporated as a city in 1961. In 1867, Denver became the capital of the Colorado Territory, which was admitted into the United States in 1876.

In the face of several challenges, Denverites managed to rally together and raise funds to construct a railway line to connect their fledgling city to the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. Once this was done, Denver began to grow in size, wealth, and importance with some speed, becoming a service and supply center. Into the city flowed millionaires and laborers alike, all intent to make the most of its ongoing growth.

In the present day, the state capital is home to many impressive cultural institutions, including the Performing Arts Complex, the world's second largest performing arts center; and the History Colorado Center, which was ranked by True West Magazine as 1st on their list of the "TOP 10 Must-See Museums"; and the annual Great American Beer Festival.

Honorable Mentions

Number 4 on NerdWallet's 2014 list of "Best Cities for Job Seekers".

Number 6 on Businessweek.com's 2012 list of "America's 50 Best Cities".

Number 9 on newgeography's 2013 list of "Best Cities for Job Growth".

Number 9 on vocativ.com's 2013 list of "The 35 Best U.S. Cities For People 35 and Under".

Number 20 for "Education" on Forbes' 2013 "Best Places For Business and Careers" list.

Major Industries and Employers

With its status as the largest city for a long distance in any direction, its position as being roughly in between cities like Los Angeles on the one side and cities like Chicago on the other side, and its connection to some of the country's main transportation systems, Denver is a major trading hub.

Government is one of the main employers in Denver, since the city is home to the offices of many federal agencies. These federal agency offices in the city also lead to the presence of many connected corporate endeavors.

In Denver's early years, its economic successes were largely the result of gold and silver rushes, and later oil filled a similar role. In the mid 1980s, a substantial drop in oil prices devastated the city's energy industry. However, since then, this industry has been recovering, and now it again contributes substantially to the local economy.

Other significant sectors in Denver's economy include telecommunications, high technology, and fast casual restaurants. Among the major employers are Ball Corporation and Lockheed Martin.

Statistics

The 2012 population of Denver was estimated at 634,265. 97,358 of these residents are foreign born, and 34,524 are veterans. The median age is 33.7.

Of the Denverites aged 25 or above, 85.1% have graduated high school and 42.2% have attained at least a bachelor's degree (this is well above the national rate, which is 28.5%).

6.0% of the city's population is unemployed, and 18.9% live below the poverty level. The city's homeownership rate is 50.4%, and the mean per capita yearly income in Denver ($32,597) is significantly above that of the US as a whole ($28,051).

Conclusion

Denver's poverty level and the homeownership rate are just below the national equivalents, while its unemployment rate is better than that of the nation. The mean per capita income in the city is significantly high, and its rate of attainment of bachelor's degrees is far ahead of the national rate. Its economy is reliable, and its cultural scene is well established. Denver would be a good choice of city for a job seeker.